Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

circumvallation

/sɚkəmvæˈleɪʃən/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.21 in modern English

Syllables: cir-cum-val-la-tion
IPA: /sɚkəmvæˈleɪʃən/

24

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

5

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A rampart or other defensive entrenchment that entirely encircles the position being defended.

Example Sentences

"[...] and in a word, would intrench and fortify them round with as many circumvallations and breast-works, as my uncle Toby would a citadel."
"The Saxon architect had exhausted his art in rendering the main keep defensible, and there was no other circumvallation than a rude barrier of palisades."
"He just managed to finish her in time—the day before the date fixed for his breaking ground on a greater business still, the circumvallation of Mrs. Dunn."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin circumvāllātiō. By surface analysis, circumvallate + -ation.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /sɚkəmvæˈleɪʃən/
British English: /sɜːkəmvæˈleɪʃən/

Inflected Forms

circumvallations (plural)

Derived Forms

circumvallatory

Frequently Paired Words

circumvallate

Antonyms

contravallation

Questions

How do you pronounce circumvallation?: The recorded pronunciation is /sɚkəmvæˈleɪʃən/.
What does circumvallation mean?: A rampart or other defensive entrenchment that entirely encircles the position being defended.
Where does circumvallation come from?: Borrowed from Latin circumvāllātiō. By surface analysis, circumvallate + -ation.

How to pronounce circumvallation

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “circumvallation”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/sɚkəmvæˈleɪʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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